Shank pocket for shoes and method of using the same



Jan. 19, 1937.

B. E. MATTHEWS I SHANK POCKET FOR SHOES AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed May 29, '1935 Patented Jan. 19, rear entree zpsspso SHANK POGKET FOR. SHOES AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Blaine E. Matthews, Portsmouth, Ohio assignor to Williams Manufacturing Company, Portsmouth, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 29, 1935, Serial No. 24,091

7 Claims.

My invention relates to shoes and in particular.

to an improvement in shank pockets.

t a particular object of my invention to provide a ready means of anchoring either end of the metal strip constituting the reinforcing associated with a shank pocket.

It is my object to provide a rectangular hole punched in the heel fiber or reinforcing piece into which a metal shank is fitted after the shoe finished. The punched reinforcing piece is stapled to the insole. The assembled insole is attached to the last and the shoe lasted complete. The metal shank is then inserted.

t is the object of this invention to save in labor and cost in attaching the shank to a shoe by eliminating the use of tacks or adhesives. This resuits a smooh bott-om'surface, allowing a better attachment to the outsole when using the cementing process for that purpose. By covering the end the shank the shank fiber, it is prevented from penetrating the outsole while the is worn.

A further advantage is that the pressure of the heel end of the shank is distributed over a larger area of the heel. Another advantage is that the shank can be accurately located. The shank is not in the way of any of the lasting operations.

The particular object of our invention is to insert the shank after the shoe is lasted and at the time just before the sole cementing operation is performed. 9

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view showing the metal strip insert before the outsole has been applied and before the heel is applied.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I designates the toe of a shoe and 2 the heel portion thereof. 3 designates the heel and d the outsole.

In the practice of using this invention, a heel fiber or reinforcing piece 5 has a rectangular hole or slot 6 cut therefrom. The ends of this piece extend completely across the'shoe as at I and 8 and beneath these ends is inserted a metal strip 9 shaped to the shank or instep of the shoe. This metal strip has flat side flanges l0 and an arccentral strucloup portion l i as shown in Figure 3.

The reinforcing piece 5 is stapled at 00. to the insole. The assembled insole is attached to the last and the shoe lasted complete. The metal 55 shank 9 is then inserted in the hole or slot 6, into which it fits after the shoe is finished. This is just prior to the'operations preparatory to the cementing of the outsole 4 tothe shoe. The insole is designated I2.

When the metal stiffener or reinforcing shank piece 9 is in position, the fiat side edges I0 are in contact with the upper surface of the fiber reinforcing piece 5 adjacent the side edges of the slot 6. The central struck-up portion II extends downwardly and outwardly with a part thereof projecting into the slot 6. The extreme forward end of the reinforcing shank piece 9 is bent upwardly (Figure 2) to prevent the extreme end from injuring the outsole; the forward end of the reinforcing shank piece 9 is also beveled to prevent injury to the insole I 2 This extreme forward end of the reinforcing shank piece 9 extends forwardly beyond the forward edge of the fiber reinforcing piece 5. The rear end portion of the reinforcing shank portion 9 extends rearwardly of the slot 6 and is secured between the fiber reinforcing piece 5 and the heel portion of the insole I2.

After the shoe is completed (Figure 2), the rear end portion of the reinforcing shank piece 9 is secured between the heel portion of the insole I2 and the reinforcing piece 5, while the greater part of the central struck-up portion II is disposed in the slot 6 and'secured between the adjacent part of the insole i2 and the opposite part of the outsole,'while the extreme forward end portion, extending beyond the fiber reinforcing piece 5, is securedbetween the insole and the outsole. Thus, substantial contact is had between the upper surface of the reinforcing shank piece 9 and the lower surface or insole I2, while a substantial portion of the central upraised portion I I thereof is disposed in the slot 6 which prevents lateral displacement thereof; the extreme rear end portion of the reinforcing shank piece 9 is disposed between the fiber reinforcing piece 5 (rearwardly of the slot 6) and the insole I2. The extreme forward end portion of the reinforcing shank piece 9 is secured between the insole and the outsole, while the portion to the rear thereof (between the extreme forward end portion and the slot 6) is secured between the fiber reinforcing piece 5 and the insole.

The leather covering or upper of the shoe which is folded over the insole and tacked in position and cemented is designated at IS. A filler between the outsole and the insole betweenthe flange I3 is inserted on the toe portion as at I4.

In the method of manufacturing a shoe according to this invention, the punched reinforcing piece 5 is stapled to the insole and the assembled insole is attached to the last and the shoe lasted complete prior to applying the outsole. Then the metal shank insert 9 is inserted in the shank pockets formed by the reinforcing piece in which has been cut the rectangular opening 6. Then the outsole is applied and the heel is applied.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shoe, the combination of a shoe upper and insole construction having a reinforcing piece attached to the bottom thereof from heel to the rear of the ball portion, said reinforcing piece having a slot therein, and a metal rein forcing shank piece having the central portion thereof in said slot between the insoleand outsole and either end extending beyond the slot, one of said ends being retained between the reinforcing piece and the insole and the other of said ends being retained between. the insole and the outsole; and said shank being adapted for insertion between the insole and the attached reinforcing piece. a

2. In a shoe, the combination; of a shoe upper and insole construction having areinforcing. piece attached to the bottom thereof from heel'tothe rear of the ball portion, said. reinforcing, piece having a slot therein, ametal reinforcing shank piece having the ends thereof inserted beneath the reinforcing piece with the central portion thereof in said slot and extending beyond said reinforcing piece at its forward end, and an outsole and heel adapted to cover the bottom of the shoe, said slotted reinforcing strip and the metal reinforcing shank, said shank. being adapted for insertion between the insole and the attached re-. inforcing piece.

3. In a shoe, an insole, a reinforcing strip extending from the heel to the forward end of the shank having a slot therein, a shoe upper lasted thereon, ametal reinforcing strip inserted in the slot formed between the insole and slotted reinforcing strip with. the central portion thereof in said slot and one end extending beyond said strip, an outsole, and a heel, said shank being insertable between the insole and the reinforcing piece after they are attached together.

4. A new article of manufacture for reinforcing a shoe comprising a slotted reinforcing piece stapled to an insole and a metal reinforcing member, the center of which is exposed by the slot in the reinforcing piece and one end of which is inserted between the reinforcing piece and the insole at the heel portion and the other end of which is inserted between the forward end of the reinforcing member and the insole with the extremity thereof extending therebeyond and unattached to insole or reinforcing piece.

5. In combination, an insole, a shoe upper lasted thereon, a slotted reinforcing piece extending from the heel to the forward end of the insole area, a portion of which is exposed on the bottom of the shoe between the overlapping portions of the shoe lasted on the insole and the reinforcing piece, and a metal reinforcing strip having an arcuate body conforming to the longitudinal configuration of the heel and insole, the

foward end of said metal strip being inserted between the insole and reinforcing strip and extending beyond the forward edge thereof, the central portion thereof extending into the slotted portion of said reinforcing piece, and the rear end of the metal strip being inserted between the reinforcing strip and the insole in the area of the heel and unattached to insole or reinforcing piece.

6, In a method of shoe manufacture, the sequence of steps of (a) securing a longitudinally slotted coextensive reinforcing piece to the heel portion of a shoe insole, (b) lasting the shoe upper and the assembled insole, (c) inserting between the lasted insole and reinforcing piece a shank having a projecting portion complementary to the slot in the reinforcingv piece and guiding said shank by the cooperation of said projecting portion and said slot, and (d) attaching the outsole.

'7. The method of attaching a reinforcing shank having a struck up portion in a shoe comprising (a) stapling a longitudinally slotted coextensive reinforcing piece to the heel portion of an insole, (b lasting the assembled insole, and (c) inserting the shank between the insole and the attached reinforcing piece with the struck up portion in the slot in the reinforcing piece and guiding said shank by the cooperation of said struck up portion and said slot.

BLAINE E. MATTHEWS. 

